Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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4 PRESEASON 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED C oming off a 10-3 record in 2017, the challenge in 2018 was to be- come the first Notre Dame team in 25 years to win at least 10 games in consecutive seasons. And with a 12-0 regular-season record, it was mission accomplished. In 2019 — with expectations as high as they have been since legend- ary coach Lou Holtz left the building in 1996 — the hope this year is to become only the second Irish team in program history to record double- digit wins in three consecutive sea- sons (Holtz's teams did it 1991-93). Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly may or may not be aware of the history he is chasing. But with 22 wins the last two seasons, and a schedule this year that features six teams that won fewer than seven games in 2018, there is no reason to believe Kelly and his staff won't match that three-year success from Holtz 26 years ago. With a preseason prediction last year of 10-2 — thinking Virginia Tech and USC would beat the Irish — we fell two games short in 2018. So let's reboot this endeavor for a team so talented that anything short of at least a Big Six bowl appearance would be a big-time disappointment. SEPT. 2 AT LOUISVILLE A 2-8 start last season cost former Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino his job last November. The Cardi- nals went winless in ACC play and lost their final nine games — most by blowout — on the way to 2-10. ND 40, Louisville 3 SEPT. 14 VS. NEW MEXICO When Notre Dame opens its 2019 home schedule, there will be a familiar face on the opponent's sideline. For- mer Irish head coach Bob Davie is en- tering his eighth season as skipper of New Mexico. ND 48, New Mexico 0 SEPT. 21 AT GEORGIA A chance for Kelly to secure the biggest win of his 10 years as Irish coach, Georgia enters this season as a legitimate SEC and national title contender with star quarterback Jake Fromm and 13 returning starters. Georgia 27, ND 21 SEPT. 28 VS. VIRGINIA Former BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall has quickly put Virginia football on the map in his three sea- sons there, leading the program to consecutive bowl games for the first time since 2004-05. ND 31, Virginia 20 OCT. 5 VS. BOWLING GREEN A terrific launch pad to the careers of former Falcon coaches Urban Meyer (now retired) and Dino Babers (Syr- acuse), this MAC program has won only nine times since Babers left three seasons ago. ND 45, Bowling Green 3 OCT. 12 VS. USC With a 6-3 overall record against the Trojans, Kelly has taken control of this longstanding rivalry. A 5-7 record in 2018 has USC head coach Clay Hel- ton on the hot seat. ND 31, USC 21 OCT. 26 AT MICHIGAN Notre Dame comes off a bye week here while Michigan plays at Penn State the week before this matchup. The Wolverines have won four straight and seven of eight versus the Irish in Ann Arbor. ND 27, Michigan 24 NOV. 2 VS. VIRGINIA TECH After a 2-0 start last season, the Hokies suffered a 1-5 stretch that in- cluded a 49-35 loss to Old Domin- ion and a 45-23 drubbing at home against Notre Dame. ND 34, Virginia Tech 17 NOV. 9 AT DUKE With six bowl appearances in the last seven years, Duke has become a dangerous opponent for any takers under head coach David Cutcliffe, an offensive guru. ND 31, Duke 24 NOV. 16 VS. NAVY After going 20-7 during its first two years in the American Athletic Conference, Navy is just 10-16 in its last two seasons and failed to make a bowl game in 2018 for the first time since 2011. ND 37, Navy 14 NOV. 23 VS. BOSTON COLLEGE Head coach Steve Addazio has led the Eagles to seven wins in all but one of his six seasons there. With a contract extension in hand, taking the next step is the assignment this year. ND 42, BC 13 NOV. 30 AT STANFORD One of the few challenges Kelly has been unable to conquer, he is winless in four tries at Stanford Sta- dium. This could be a College Foot- ball Playoff play-in game. ND 24, Stanford 21 With only two opponents (Vir- ginia and Boston College) on Notre Dame's seven-game home schedule that had winning records last year, expectations are for the Irish to go undefeated at home for the second straight season. That would be the third time in the last five years, and the fourth under Kelly. The road games against Georgia, Michigan and Stanford will ulti- mately determine this year 's fate, and Notre Dame claims two of those three to go 11-1 and again put itself in CFP consideration. ✦ Soft Home Slate Should Help Irish Make History UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com Head coach Brian Kelly and the 2019 Fighting Irish could become only the second team in pro- gram history to record double-digit wins in three consecutive seasons. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER